Chapter 24 - HONORA LOSES THE PROXY
The court upheld the amendment.
Vivienne had capacity.
Proxy termination valid.
Mother’s enhanced voting authority ended when Vivienne died.
Her subsequent votes were not automatically all void because:
Boards relied in good faith.
Ordinary operations needed stability.
Some decisions ratified later by proper authority.
But Mother had no right to continue presenting herself as proxy once renewal was absent.
Then remedy.
No punitive destruction.
Mother permanently barred from claiming legacy proxy rights.
Could she serve future advisory roles?
Only if independent trustee and conflict committee approved.
Not automatic.
Related-party transactions reviewed.
Jewelry settlement already complete.
Accounting complete.
Then court addressed my conduct indirectly:
Rafferty is not appointed substitute family representative.
Good.
I had not asked.
Guardian ad litem remains through transition.
First Meridian retains voting authority.
Good.
Then Mother cried.
Quietly.
Not because she lost money.
Because court formally said:
Vivienne had been entitled to say no to her.
That was the true loss.
Outside, Mother said:
“She planned this because she knew I would fight.”
I answered:
“Yes.”
Then:
“Does that make me exactly what she thought?”
I did not comfort.
“It means you fought.”
Fair.
Then Maris approached.
Mother ignored her.
Sister conflict.
Not mine to fix.
Then the club.
Independent trustee voted to accept developer negotiations but not final sale.
Conditions:
Higher price.
Traffic mitigation.
Green-space easement.
Member consultation.
Could take months.
No climax sale.
Just governance.
Then one unexpected decision:
Trustee invited Mother to serve as unpaid historical adviser on property records for six months.
No vote.
No stipend.
Subject to conflict rules.
I felt anger.
Then asked why.
Because she had unique knowledge.
Could decline.
Mother accepted.
Was that redemption?
No.
Work under limits.
Good.
Then Blythe’s park visit.
Mother came.
No jewelry.
No club talk.
Blythe brought silver necklace anyway.
Mother saw.
Eyes filled.
Did not touch.
Good.
They fed ducks.
Blythe asked:
“Grandma, do ducks own lake?”
Mother laughed.
“No.”
“Daddy said no one owns ducks.”
“That sounds right.”
Ten minutes.
Then twenty.
At end Mother asked:
“Can I hug you?”
Blythe said:
“No.”
Mother answered:
May you like
“Okay.”
That mattered more than any court order.
